My obersvation on the US vs Italia
The tackle Pablo received a red card for has been going on all World Cup and has warranted only a yellow card from other refs. Pablo should not have made that kind of tackle 80 yards from his own goal but I still believe it was a little harsh. Yellow card definitely, but a red card is very questionable.
Pope should have received a warning from the ref before receiving another yellow card. To give a team 2 red cards in a span of 5 minutes is absolutely proposterous (especially when they are not warranted)! It is creating a situation where the ref is dictating the play/flow of the game and not the players on the field. It seemed the ref was throwing out cards left and right regardless of the serverity of the foul (on both sides). Even Beckenbaur is quoted as saying there have been too many cards given for minor infractions/fouls so far in this World Cup.
This is not the first time this ref has come under fire. He has been reprimanded and placed on probation several times. It is my hope, for all the partcipants in this year's World Cup, that he is permitted from officiating anymore games.
If the US had lost but the officiating was consistent I would not be complaining. The fact is we outplayed the Italians 9vs10 men and tied. I believe we would have won 11vs10 and even 10vs10. Unfortunately, b/c of the two "disputable" red cards, we will never know how the US would have fared against the Italians with an even side or being a man up.
posted by Me @ 11:37 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Pope was warned, right before halftime. He pulled a guy's jersey and brought him down, and the ref ran to him as if he was going to card him right then. Then he talked to him, and I assume issued a warning since no card was given. That was his warning right there. The fact that he went in hard to start the second half is his own doing. And two hard fouls within minutes of each other is not the ref's fault. The ref doesn't dictate the flow of the game by issuing cards; cards are a reaction to the flow of the game, not the cause. And Pope should have been under more control, knowing the ref was issuing cards and had already warned him. Issuing 2 red cards in the span of 5 minutes is not "preposterous." I mean, after Pablo's card, let's assume Pope elbows a guy in the face or kicks a guy in the nuts. Would it be preposterous to issue a red then? Of course not, because like I said, the cards are a reaction to the flow of the game, not the cause of it.
As for consistent officiating, the ref issued Italy a red before any of these "questionable" calls, so I would hardly say that the officiating was completely one-sided. Pope was issued a warning once before his second yellow. Both teams received 2 YCs and 1 RC.
As for "outplaying" Italy, I'm not so sure. By now I've seen most of the game in tape delay, and the highlights more than I care to, yet the following stats stick out:
Time of possession = Italy 54% - 46% US
Corners: Italy 7 - 3 US
Offsides: Italy 11 - 1 US
Shots: Italy 10 - 8 US
Shots on goal: Italy 3 - 0 US
Actual playing time: Italy 29 - 25 US
Fouls: Italy 13 - 24 US
Most of these stats suggest a fairly even game.
- Jav
The red card on Italy was legit.
The red card on Pablo was crap.
The red card on Pope was legit. (2nd yellow)
Offside call on McBride was legit. (obstructing keeper)
Pablo's card was indeed a "make-up" call. I have watched almost 2/3 of the World Cup matches (prior to the simulcasts starting this week.) There have been many similar and many far worse tackles that did not generate red cards.
Soccer stats are worthless. I watched the entire game live and agree that the US looked to be the better side down the stretch. This is while being down 10-9. Most who watched that game (Italian or American would probably agree).
The US has had one disaster game and one strong showing. We will see which side shows up tomorrow.
Re: Michael Owen - I feel bad for that kid, too. England is down to three strikers (one of whom is a 17 yo who has not played in this Cup)
JC
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